Made in Nigeria: Senate threatens agencies violating Procurement Act

THE Senate on Thursday, threatened to deal decisively with any agency that violates the Procurement Act, which mandates organisations to give preference to Made-in-Nigeria goods.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who stated this in Abuja while receiving manufacturers from Aba, Abia State, under the aegis of the Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEAPMAAS), said the National Assembly was serious about the implementation of the Act.

According to him, the Senate standing committees had been mandated to deal with all departments and agencies violating the public procurement law, which compels them to give preference to locally-produced goods in the country.

He also urged military and para-military agencies to emulate the army by procuring items like booths and other needs locally.

The group, led by the coordinator of Made in Aba Project, Mr Sam Haart, had earlier told Saraki that the manufacturers were proud of his efforts to promote made-in-Nigeria goods, alongside the senator representing Abia South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.

Saraki told the gathering the Federal Government spends N2 trillion more annually on purchase of goods generally, adding that the Senate planned to ensure that a substantial amount of that figure was devoted to locally produced goods.

He also advised local manufacturers to petition the Senate where they felt a government agency was denying them the opportunity to sell their goods deliberately.